The CEO of a $2.3 billion company retained Coleman Lew to recruit a director for the company's board. At the time, the board hoped to attract a director with a proven record in the retail industry. After discussions with a number of CEOs who were interested in the opportunity, Coleman Lew targeted and recruited an experienced CEO within the retail industry. Since then, this executive has proven to be one of the company's most effective directors.

Several years later, the board again retained Coleman Lew to recruit another director. The objective of this search was to find an executive to chair the audit committee in the post-Sarbanes-Oxley era. Despite the restrictions imposed by the new legislation, Coleman Lew was able to target a young, recently retired CFO to guide the company as it sharpened its financial focus.